Handheld, Vibratory Egg Shell Removal Device and Method

ABSTRACT

An egg shell removal device that comprises a handheld, oscillating assembly having a body member and an electrically driven attachment head. The head comprises a formed member driven by an oscillating output shaft from the body member, which provides a means to separate the shell and the inner and outer membranes from an egg white without damaging the egg white in the process. The head is a tapering section having a rounded tip, a concave interior surface, and a convex outer surface, whereby the interior surface travels along the egg white surface and contours thereto, while the outer surface lifts and breaks the shell as the head member oscillates from its oscillator or electric motor input. Also disclosed is an accompanying method of egg shell removal using a handheld, vibratory device to lift and break a shell from an egg white, which replaces traditional shell removal process conducted by hand.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/631,752 filed on Jan. 11, 2012, entitled “Egg Sheller.” The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an article peeling device and outer layer remover. More specifically, the present invention pertains to an egg shell removal device or peeler having an oscillating tip that removes the shell without damaging the underlying egg white surface.

Peeling a hardboiled egg can be a laborious and time consuming task. Most eggs are shelled or peeled by hand, which is inefficient and can lead to damage to the underlying egg white if not conducted carefully. The process of peeling a hardboiled egg involves first cracking the egg shell and separating the shell and membrane layers from the underlying egg white. Depending on the freshness of the egg, the conditions in which the hardboiled egg was prepared, and the temperature of the egg at the time of shell removal, it may be difficult to liberate the shell and membrane layers from the egg white, as the egg white may not be sufficiently hardened or the shell may not readily separate from the membrane layers. This makes separation of the shell a difficult task and further introduces a high likelihood that the egg white will be damaged during the process.

Peeling devices have been disclosed in the art that relate to fruit and vegetable peeling; however most of these articles relate to removal of a softened or thickened peel that can be cut or abraded to reveal the underlying fruit or vegetable. Eggs, by contrast, have a thin, hardened shell comprised of calcium carbonate structure that does not readily peel in sections. Rather, the shell is a brittle outer layer that cracks into smaller sections as the shell is stressed and pulled away from adjacent areas. The underlying membrane layers keep the cracked portions of the egg together during this operation; however the shell material and its structure do not lend well to being cut, abraded, or continuously peeled as is customary with most fruits and vegetables. Therefore, an improved peeling or shelling device is required that addresses the nature of egg shells and the difficulties associated with removing their shell in an efficient and timely manner, whereby the underlying egg white is not damaged during the process.

The present invention pertains to an oscillating egg shell removal device and improved method of removal an egg shell from an egg white. The device includes a handheld body member having a similar structure to an oscillating oral device or oscillating hand tool. These devices comprise a body section the user can grasp with one hand, whereby an internal electric motor or oscillator drives an output shaft connected to a head attachment. The head oscillates at the frequency of input to provide utility for the user depending on the head design and the given application. Oscillating and vibrating tools are well described in the art for various cutting and removal operations. However, the present invention discloses a new and novel egg shell removal head attachment that is particularly adapted for lifting a hardened egg shell using its tapered design. The egg shell and underlying membrane layers are lifted and removed using the outer contour of the head, while the oscillating motion facilitates lifting, cracking, and placement of the head beneath the shell layer. The interior surface of the head conforms to egg white surface, thereby preventing damage to the egg white as the shell is lifted and removed. The disclosed tool aims to reduce the time required to remove an egg shell by hand, increase efficiency of the operation, and prevent damage to the egg white during shell removal.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to article peeling and outer layer removal tools. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications, and generally relate to hand tools or oscillating assemblies for tasks other than egg shell removal. The following is a list of devices deemed most relevant to the present disclosure, which are herein described for the purposes of highlighting and differentiating the unique aspects of the present invention, and further highlighting the drawbacks existing in the prior art.

Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,565 to McNair-Chaplin discloses a handheld fruit and vegetable peeler that comprises a housing having an electric motor that drives a rotating peeler attachment head. The attachment includes a number of planar plastic blades having serrations, whereby the blades first cut into the surface of the peel and then clear and scrape away the outer surface. A protective hood covers the serrated blade attachment head, while the blades are driven by a shaft connected to the electric motor within the handheld housing. The McNair-Chaplin device, while describing a motorized peeler, is inappropriate for use with the hardened shell of an egg. The motion of the blades and their structure would not be suitable for lifting and breaking an egg shell, but rather are suitable for cutting away the surface of a fruit or vegetable peel.

Another such device is U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,058 to Ehrig, Jr., which discloses an electrically driven fruit and vegetable peeler having an electric motor, output shaft, and a rotating peeler attachment that includes a surface roughness. The surface roughness of the attachment abrades the surface of the fruit or vegetable peel, thereby removing material therefrom to liberate the article from its outer peel. The rough surface revolves coaxially about the electric motor output shaft to act as an abrasive against the peel being removed. Similar to the McNair-Chaplin device, the Ehrig, Jr. device would be unsuitable for removing an egg shell. The shell of an egg is best removed by cracking the surface and peeling the cracked portions away from the egg surface. A rotary abrasive would not be ideal and lead to the egg surface turning to a particulate that would need to be cleaned. By contrast, the present invention pertains to a vibrating implement that is adapted to follow the surface contour of the egg and lift and crack the shell in the process as it moves thereover.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,064 to Bock discloses a method and apparatus for removal of plaque from dental anatomy using a handheld vibratory device that oscillates a bristle tip. The bristle tip includes a tuft that vibrates at a sufficient intensity to remove plaque from the neck and root surfaces of teeth and the gums. A battery powered oscillator creates sonic or ultrasonic motion in the bristle tuft. The Bock device, while disclosing a vibrating implement, fails to disclose a vibrating implement having an eggshell removing tip that contours to the soft egg surface while vibrating to crack and separate the adjacent shell layer as the tip is moved across the egg surface.

Similar to the Bock device is U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0162145 to Masterman, which discloses a vibrating oral care device that includes a housing, a battery power supply, and an electric vibrator. The vibrator excites a rigid element that extends from the housing that is adapted to fit within the interdental spaces of a user's mouth. The rigid element includes a tooth pick element having a long axis and an acute angle with respect to the long axis, whereby the pick is inserted between teeth and the vibratory input oscillates the tip of the pick to remove material. The Masterman device fails to disclose an oscillating or vibratory device having a widen, concave implement that can slide along an egg outer surface and remove an eggshell without harming the egg surface in the process. While disclosing a handheld, vibrating implement, the Masterman device diverges in design elements and intent with respect to the present invention.

Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,117,774 to Wilburn discloses an apparatus for removing the shell of a hardboiled egg. The apparatus comprises a main body portion having a thin wedge shape for insertion between a cooked egg white surface and the shell. Fluid outlets are disposed along the leading edge of the wedge for communicated a pressurized fluid between the egg white and the shell to separate the two from one another during the peeling process. Once the wedge is inserted between the egg white and the shell, the fluid forces the two away from one another. The Wilburn device provides a novel means of eggshell separation using a shaped tip and fluid pressure. While disclosing a concave tip, the Wilburn device fails to disclose a vibratory input as a means to crack and separate the egg white from its shell as described by the present invention.

The present invention pertains to an egg shell removal tool that utilizes an oscillating input and a specifically designed head to lift, crack, and remove the shell from its egg white base without damaging the egg white. The oscillating head of the device is placed below the shell and membrane layers to break them away, as the head traverses the outer surface of the egg white to completely reveal the egg for consumption or further processing. It is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the prior art, and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing egg shell removal devices. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of article surface and article peeling devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new, oscillating input device that can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when quickly and efficiently separating an egg white from its outer shell and membrane layers using an oscillating, handheld device.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved egg shell removal devices that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an egg shell removal device that includes a handheld device having an electrically driven output shaft connected to an egg shell removal attachment head that can be moved along an egg surface to lift and crack the egg shell for removal thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an egg shell removal device that includes a separable handheld device and an egg shell removal head attachment.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an egg shell removal device that includes an electrically driven oscillator having battery power and an oscillating output shaft adapted to provide input to the egg shell removal head.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an egg shell removal device that utilizes an egg shell removal head having a specifically designed, tapering structure forming a concave interior surface and a concave outer surface that allow the head to travel along the egg white and separate the egg white from the shell and membrane layers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an egg shell removal method that improves the efficiency and reduces the time required to remove an egg from its outer shell using a handheld device.

A final object of the present invention is to provide an egg shell removal device that can be efficiently produced and provided to the consumer or commercially utilized at a reduced cost and with replaceable attachment heads for continued use over time.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a view of the present invention in a working state, wherein the oscillating head attachment is affixed to the handheld input, shown in a cross section view.

FIG. 2 shows exploded views of the oscillating attachment head of the shell removal device.

FIG. 3 shows the present invention in an operational state, whereby its attachment head is oscillating at a given frequency.

FIG. 4 shows the present invention engaging a egg shell while its oscillating attachment head facilitates egg shell cracking and removal.

FIG. 5 shows a cross section view of the egg shell removing attachment head.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the egg shell removing attachment head lifting and separating an egg shell from an egg white surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the egg shell removal device. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for efficiently breaking and separating an egg shell from its underlying egg white surface. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a partial cross section view of the egg shell removal device of the present invention, wherein the device comprise a handheld body member 11 and an oscillating, egg shell removal head 21. The head 21 is an attachment that affixes to the body member 11, whereby the body member 11 comprises a structure that houses an electric motor or electrically driven oscillator 15, along with a power supply 12, and activation switch 14. The oscillator 15 drives an output shaft 17 that extends through the outer wall 13 of the body member housing, travels through a neck portion 26 of the attachment head, and terminates within the body of the attachment head 21. The oscillator 15 provides a vibratory input to the output shaft 17, which in-turn oscillates the head 21 at a given frequency. This makes the head 21 vibrate at a high frequency, which pulses any object in contact with the head 21 and ultimately facilitates separation of an egg shell from an egg white surface, improves cracking of the egg shell as the head travels along the egg white surface, and finally allows the tip 25 of the head to be placed under the shell and membrane layers and initiate separation from the egg white.

The shell removal head 21 comprises a formed, tapering section having a concave inner surface 23, a convex outer surface 22, and a tip region 25 that allows the head to be inserted below an egg shell. Within the body of the head is a cavity 24 that accepts the output shaft 17 of the oscillator 15, communicating displacement therefrom to the head 21 and establishing its vibratory movement. The neck portion 26 of the attachment head conforms over the output shaft 17 and provides an outer shroud over the shaft outlet aperture in the body member to prevent fluid from the egg entering the interior of the handheld member 11. A moisture seal 16 is further positioned along the interior portion of the outlet aperture to prevent any moisture infiltration from entering the oscillator 15, while finally a first and second gasket 18 seals the power source 12 from any contact with egg fluid while the device is in operation. The power source 12 is preferably a direct current battery power supply, however it is also contemplated that power can be provided to the base of the handheld member through a power cord and alternating current power, whereby the alternating current power is converted to direct current using an appropriate transformer or converter within the handheld member 11.

The handheld member 11 of the present invention is a well known assembly in the art of hand tools, oral hygiene devices, and a food product devices. The device includes a power source 12, a vibratory source such as an electric motor 15 having a defined oscillation frequency, a handheld housing, an oscillating output 17, and user operation input 14. This type of device is well described in the art for various applications. The handheld input device of the present invention is contemplated for a new and novel purpose: providing a defined input for an attachment specifically suited for removing an egg shell from a hardboiled egg. Present tools and methods are slow and inefficient, as well as prone to failures when the underlying egg white is damaged or portions of the egg shell will not easily separate from the egg white. The attachment head 21 of the present invention is utilized to lift and separate an egg shell from the egg white, while vibrating the brittle layer of shell about the head 21 so as to initiate cracking and structural failure thereof. The egg shell is first crack, whereafter the tip 25 of the head 21 is fitted below an exposed shell edge. Thereafter, the vibratory input facilitates separation as the user traverses the head across the egg surface and below the cracking shell, which is lifted over the convex outer surface 22 of the head while the concave inner surface 23 travels along the egg white surface without causing damage thereto.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a first and second perspective view of the egg shell removal head 21 of the present invention, highlighting the both the concave inner surface 23 side of the head and the convex outer surface 22 of the present invention. As shown the head 21 comprises a tapering section having a base 27, forming a body section having a first convex outer surface 22 and an opposing concave inner surface 23. The convex outer surface 22 is a rounded outer surface that supports the cracked egg shell and lifts it away from the concave inner surface 23, and thus away from the egg white surface of the egg. The tapering section forms a wedge shape having a rounded tip 25 that helps the user insert the head 21 under the egg shell and membrane layers. The head base 27 is a square termination at the interface between the output shaft neck 26 and the tapering section of the head 21. The output shaft is fed through the neck 26 portion and into an aperture within the base to be securely positioned within an open interior 25 within the head. When positioned therein, the motion of the output shaft is translated into motion of the head 21 to oscillate the head and facilities shell cracking and removal. When in use, the concave inner surface 23 is placed into contact with the egg white surface, while the tip 25 is driven forward beneath un-separated portions of egg shell, while the outer surface supports the removed shell as the head traverses the egg. The tapering section causes the cracked and separated shell to migrate away from the egg white surface as the head is pressed forward and the tip 25 drives further portions of the egg shell upward.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a perspective view of the present invention in an operational state, whereby the handheld member 11 is provided input to the head 21 such that the head is oscillating 31 at a defined frequency. The oscillation is preferably in a lateral direction with respect to the head 21 section, where the head inner surface and tip oscillates left to right over the egg white surface during operation. This motion facilitates the head 21 fitting beneath the egg shell and advancing the head 21 thereunder. Alternatively, the oscillation 31 may be such that the tip oscillates upwards and downwards to improve the head's ability to lift the egg shell and membrane layers from the egg white. Further still, the oscillation may provide a random vibratory input to the head 21. In any of the input embodiments, the oscillations send an oscillating load or wave through the shell layer to help separation and to spread cracking of the shell across the entire surface of the egg.

Referring now to both FIGS. 3 and 4, the device is shown in operation and in a working position. To energize the device, the user presses the activation switch 14, which allows current to flow from the power supply and into the oscillator motor. The user grips the outer surface 13 of the handheld member 11 and drives the head 21 forward, advancing the tip of the head along the surface of the egg 41 and beneath the shell layer 43 after the hardboiled egg shell is compromised by an initially cracking operation. Once cracked, the tip of the head can be inserted under the shell to start the shell removal operation, while the oscillating movement 31 greatly increases the efficiency and ease with which the shell separates from the underlying egg white surface. Portions 42 of the cracked egg flow over the outer concave surface of the oscillating head as it is advanced along the egg white surface, providing separation and complete removal of the shell along the path of the head during operation.

If the handheld member 11 power source is an interior battery power supply, the batteries can be accessed and removed via an access door 10, which is removed using a latch 19 that releases the door 10 from a secured position to an open position. Once open, the batteries can be accessed and replaced. If an alternating current power source is preferred, perhaps in a commercial setting where the device may be utilized over extended periods, a power cord may be fitted to the base of the handheld device to deliver electrical power to the oscillator. The power is transformed to direct current for use as a driving force for the oscillator motor.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a cross section view of the egg shell removal head 21 of the present invention. The head 21 is the separation means with which the oscillating motion of the device translates into egg shell separation and removal from a hardboiled egg. As shown, the head 21 is a tapering section having a rounded tip 25 and a square base 27, wherebetween a first inner surface 23 opposes a tapering and convex outer surface 22. The body 29 of the head is a formed and solid material, wherein a channel 24 is provided that accepts the distal end of the oscillator output shaft through the base 27. The inner surface 23 travels along the egg white surface while the outer tapering and convex surface 22 draws the broken shell away from the egg white as the tip 25 advances forward and the entire head 21 oscillates at a high frequency. The inner surface 23 may comprise a planar surface or preferably a concave surface to match the contour of an egg white surface.

Referring finally to FIG. 6, the head 21 is shown in a working state, advancing beneath the egg shell 43 outer layer and lifting broken segments 42 of the shell away from the underlying egg white 44 as the head sends vibrations through the shell 43. Traditional methods of shell removal include first breaking the shell integrity to allow access to a crack, whereby sections of cracked shell are removed by hand and peeled from the egg white surface. This process is tedious and leads to defected egg whites thereafter. A user must manipulate and remove sections of shell by hand, introducing physical contact between the egg white and the user's hands. Delicacy is required to carefully remove the shell without removing the egg white in the process. Further still, the time requirements of removing an egg shell by hand are quite high, particularly if several eggs requiring shelling or if the operation is in a commercial or industrial setting. The present invention provides a means to readily separate an egg shell from the egg white, whereby no contact between the user and the egg white is made, and further the removal effort and time requirement is drastically improved.

Accompanying the disclosed device, an accompanying method of removing an egg shell is contemplated. First, a hardboiled egg is prepared by boiling the egg in a hot bath, solidifying the egg white such that the shell can be removed to reveal a solid or semi-solid surface thereunder. The hardboiled eggs are then removed from the bath and kept in water. The egg temperature can be hot or cold, however higher temperatures allow the membrane and shell to separate from the egg white more easily. The egg is then struck to break the integrity of the shell, initiate egg cracks, and provide access for a vibrating or oscillating tip of an egg shell removal tool to be inserted between the solidified egg white and the egg shell. The vibration of the tool is used to facilitate cracking of the egg while the tool is advanced to lift the cracked portions away from the egg white surface. Keeping the eggs in a liquid prior to tool use improves the ability of the tool tip to advance and separate the shell. The tool head should travel the outer surface of the egg white to completely remove the shell outer layer, whereafter the hardboiled egg white is fully exposed for consumption or further processing. Overall, the process takes between twenty and forty seconds to completely remove the shell, while the egg remains sanitary and the clean-up of the area is kept to a minimum, as the cracked shell portions fall below the supported egg into a defined area.

The present invention provides a new and improved egg shell removal tool and method of removing a hardboiled egg shell with minimal time, increased efficiency, and improved cleanliness. It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

I claim: 1) An oscillating outer layer removal device, comprising: a handheld oscillator member having an electrically driven oscillator, a power source, and an output shaft connected to said oscillator such that energizing thereof activates an oscillating movement of said output shaft; an outer surface removal head attachment in connection with said output shaft distal end therethrough; said head attachment comprising a wedge body having a tapering section, a rounded tip and a square base, said square base having an aperture to accept said output shaft distal end; said head attachment further comprising a first inner surface opposing a second tapering and outer surface; said second outer surface having a convex shape. 2) The device of claim 1, wherein said outer surface removal head comprises a egg shell removal tool for hardboiled eggs, whereby said rounded tip is advanced between a hardboiled egg white and an attached egg shell to separate said egg shell from said egg white. 3) The device of claim 1, wherein said first inner surface further comprises a concave surface. 4) The device of claim 1, wherein said first inner surface further comprises a planar surface. 5) The device of claim 1, wherein said oscillator output shaft is shrouded by a sleeve to prevent moisture from entering said handheld member. 6) The device of claim 1, wherein said handheld member further comprises an internal moisture seal that prevents moisture contacting said oscillator. 7) The device of claim 1, wherein said handheld member further comprising at least one gasket that prevents moisture from contacting said power source. 8) The device of claim 1, wherein said power source further comprises a direct current battery power supply. 9) The device of claim 1, wherein said power source further comprises alternating current power supply. 10) The device of claim 1, wherein said aperture in said base leads to an internal cavity within said body for accepting said oscillator output shaft. 11) An outer layer removal tool implement, comprising: a wedge body having a tapering section having a rounded tip and a square base, said square base having an aperture to accept an shaft distal end therethrough; said head attachment further comprising a first inner surface opposing a second tapering and outer surface; said first inner surface for traveling along a work piece surface; said second outer surface having a convex shape. 12) The device of claim 11, wherein said inner surface further comprises a concave shape to conform to a rounded member 13) The device of claim 11, wherein said inner surface further comprises a planar surface. 14) The device of claim 11, wherein said wedge body further comprises a formed section of a unitary material. 15) The device of claim 11, wherein said aperture in said base leads to an internal cavity within said body for accepting a oscillator output shaft. 16) A method of removing an egg shell from hardboiled egg white, comprising the steps of: hard boiling an egg in a hot bath to solidify said egg white; striking said egg shell surface to break said shell integrity; inserting a tip of a wedge shaped egg shell removal tool into said egg shell break and between said egg white and said egg shell; energizing said removal tool oscillation to facilitate egg cracking and separation of said egg shell from said egg white; advancing said tool tip around said egg white outer surface to remove said egg shell. 17) The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of: retaining un-cracked eggs in liquid prior to breaking their integrity and utilizing said removal tool to improve lubrication when advancing said tool tip. 18) The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of: maintaining said hardboiled egg internal temperature above room temperature to facilitate egg shell separation. 